Thanks for the quick replys, i do appreciate it
I'm a bit confused here now :wtf:
Coolname: I tried copying over the boot dir and bootmgr files but windows wouldnt allow me to copy over the boot dir entirely.
I get an error saying the BCD files are unable to copy because they're open in another program ??? I tried this in safe mode as well and i get the same error
Ok, I anticipated you running into this problem, but I was hoping you wouldn't have to do this because you would have them on
both systems (which it now seems apparent you don't). There is a way to export (or effectively "copy") it over into a new location with bcdedit.exe via the command line, but I imagine you wouldn't want to go to all that work.
So just follow Justin's advice, and run Startup Repair (2-3 times since it can only fix one problem per pass), with the Vista system's drive that does
not have a BCD
first in the boot sequence in the BIOS, and it will recreate a BCD for you on that drive.
Both my drives are active and both have windows vista installed on them. When the BIOS loads it does not give me an option to pick the operating system I want to load and selecting that partition (hard drive) from the BIOS doesnt make a difference either. It always loads the partition on my C:\ I have tried selecting my D:\ in the boot menu of the bios but it just loads my windows on the C:\ (installed 2nd)
You don't select the partition. You select the drive (that is, the hard drive) in the "boot sequence" (or "boot order" or whatever your particular BIOS calls it), and move it up in the boot sequence until it is first, and boots before the other HDD. Keep in mind drive letters differ from system to system, it is not physically attached to the partition, so there are often cases where the drive letters of the same partitions are different in one system than in another system in a multiboot. That is completely normal.
To enter your BIOS, press F2 or Del (or whatever key it displays on the first splash you get to at startup, to tell you to press) right after turning on your computer, and when at the brand name's page. For instance, my computer is a Dell, and so the first splash screen I get to when turning on my computer is the Dell page.
I'm prepared to a fresh install on both HD's. If I take this route what approach should i take to ensure I get this right from the getgo. My goal is to have all my programs installed on to my C:\ and dedicate my D:\ to use as a Home Theater PC. I want nothing installed on my D:\ other than what is needed to run a HTPC to eliminate any driver or software conflicts.
thanks again guys
No need to go to that extreme. Following the advice here you will soon be able to boot either system by itself, or by the BCD of the current drive 0 (as seen by the BIOS).
Addendum:
If you want to use the command line to export the BCD to the other Vista system's partition, and configure it to boot the other Vista, perform the following:
Boot into the Vista system that has the BCD.
Open up the Command Prompt as "administrator" (by right-clicking on it, and selecting "Run as administrator"), and run the following command (and press Enter):
Code:
[FONT=Arial]bcdedit /export X:\boot\bcd[/FONT]
where "X:" is replaced with the drive letter of the Vista system (as seen from the Vista you are booted into) that does
not currently have a BCD.
Now boot into the Vista system that has the BCD you just exported.
Open up the Command Prompt as "administrator" (by right-clicking on it, and selecting "Run as administrator"), and run the following commands (and press Enter after each one):
Code:
[FONT=Arial]bcdedit /set {current} osdevice boot
bcdedit /set {current} device boot
bcdedit /set {bootmgr} device boot[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]bcdedit /set {memdiag} device boot[/FONT]
Now reboot and test, and you should be able to boot into either Vista system without any further modifications by simply changing which drive is the boot drive (i.e. drive 0) in the BIOS.
